A statewide blackout was averted on Thursday when electricity workers called off their strike after nearly 10 hours following the Federal Government’s intervention in the labor dispute raging at the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN.
The truce was reached at an emergency meeting in Abuja called by the Minister of Power, who was represented by senior ministry officials, and attended by officials from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, TCN management, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC).
The walkout, which was precipitated by unresolved welfare and operational difficulties, sparked worries of a statewide blackout.
However, after hours of negotiation, both sides agreed on critical agreements that would allow the industrial action to be suspended.
According to the communiqué issued at the end of the conference, the unions approved the minister’s request to study the report of a standing committee by October 6-7, 2025, with implementation beginning later that month.
The communiqué also indicated that TCN and NISO would jointly assess the financial consequences of the committee’s conclusions and develop an implementation plan to deliver to the Minister of Power and the unions.
In addition, the unions and management are likely to hold another meeting to discuss unresolved issues.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) was also urged to hasten its tariff review to ensure the agreement’s smooth implementation. Importantly, the parties agreed that no employee would face repercussions for participating in the strike.
With these resolutions, the unions suspended their strike, allowing the agreements to be executed.
Labor leaders welcomed the conclusion as a “measured victory,” warning that they would not hesitate to begin industrial action if the government or TCN violated the agreement.
The development has alleviated mounting anxiety around the country, where worries of a long-term darkness have gripped homes and businesses.
NUEE launched an indefinite strike Wednesday, accusing the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) of ignoring employee welfare and essential operational concerns.
In a circular dated September 24, 2025, NUEE’s interim General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, stated that
The union could no longer remain silent while members’ rights were infringed and the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) continued to degrade.
The workers’ objections include the inability to apply the new national minimum wage, workforce casualization, non-payment of salaries from April 2025, a shortage of operational tools and trucks, and a failure to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from 2021.
They also cited unresolved issues from the unbundling of TCN and non-payment of retirement benefits.
NUEE stated, “It is regrettable that TCN management has chosen to treat these critical issues with levity and utter disregard for its hard-working staff.
“We cannot continue to fold our arms while our rights are trampled upon and the electricity sector deteriorates.
“To this end, the union is compelled to withdraw its services with immediate effect. Members are hereby directed to withdraw their services until such a time that management demonstrates readiness to meet its obligations to the workforce.”
